Commission rescinds €414 million in CAP payments

The European Commission announced today (26 February) it is reclaiming €414 million of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds improperly spent by member states.

The recall is done regularly under the ‘clearance of accounts procedure’ at the end of a long-term budgetary period, under which the Commission is required to ensure that member states have made correct use of the funds. Out of the total, €21 million has already been recovered. All member states except Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Austria and Portugal will have to return money.

The largest return – €112 million – is being demanded of the UK for weaknesses in the Land Parcel Identification and Geographic Information Systems (LPIS-GIS), in the processing of applications, in administrative cross checks and in on-the-spot controls. Italy must return the next largest amount – €48 million for infringements in cross compliance.